Lumberjacks to unveil 2009 basketball championship banner tonight

The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack basketball team is inviting fans to "Beat the Buzzer" for Wednesday's game against UT Arlington to help the 'Jacks celebrate their Southland Conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. in Johnson Coliseum.

The team will unveil its 2009 championship banner in a pregame ceremony Wednesday night. Any fans who arrive by 6:30 p.m. will receive free admission to the game as part of the "Beat the Buzzer" promotion.

Additionally, SFA students have some added incentive to attend the game. On top of the chance to earn Jack Team Rewards points, the Citizens 1st Bank "Show for Dough" promotion is making its 2010 debut tonight. The SFA student group with the largest number of members in attendance will win a cash prize.

News and Announcements

First Day of Classes Today! Let’s “roll out the purple carpet” for our students. Greet our returning students as well as our new students with a smile and kind word. We want them to feel important, so welcome them for a great semester at SFA. Be on the lookout for students who seem “lost” and offer them assistance to find their classes – many times the puzzled expressions on their faces indicate they need help.

The Department of Human Services invites you to a farewell reception for Gil Hanke, Human Services, from 10:45 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 22, in the Human Services Building, Rm. 101. Please come and wish Hanke a fond farewell as he moves to Nashville as the chairman of the United Methodist Men's Organization.

Faculty and staff are invited to attend the Department of Student Affairs’ Community Partners Breakfast starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 28, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center’s Twilight Ballroom. The event is open to the campus community as well as representatives from community agencies that are looking for student volunteers. It is an easy way to find out about areas of need in Nacogdoches and is often a great way to establish partnerships for service learning projects. Information will also be available about applying for service learning grants for the Fall 2010 semester. RSVP to Jamie Bouldin, Assistant Director for Student Life, at jfbouldin@sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-1088.

Free H1N1 Flu Vaccinations: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. • Monday through Friday • No appointments necessary. First come, first serve while supplies last. There are currently 210 vaccines available for students, faculty and staff.

Please inform your students about the free TB Test Clinic:
8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. • Friday, Jan. 22 • Students taking the free test must return for the reading on Monday, Jan. 25, during the same times listed. Please be advised of the following: 1) Any student that is pregnant must have a note from her physician giving approval to take the test; 2) Any student that has had a positive test reading in the past will need to have a chest x-ray. Chest x-rays are done at the student’s expense, approximately $65. Please instruct these students also to come to the TB clinic to obtain an order for the x-ray; and 3) Any student that takes the test on Friday and fails to return on Monday for the reading will have to wait several weeks before the test can be repeated; and, due to the increased number of students that have failed to return on the proper day for the readings, we have increased the charge for a repeat test to $10. For more information, please visit the University Health Clinic Web site or call (936) 468-4008.Preview the Student Recreation Center for free until Sunday, Jan. 24!
With a valid SFA ID, faculty and staff are able to test the facilities to workout, take a dip in the pool, jog along the indoor track, play raquetball and more. Members may purchase a one-month membership or several consecutive months for $30 per month. Payment may be made at time of purchase or deducted from your paycheck each month. For only $5 a day, members may bring a friend. To learn more about the facilities, view upcoming events and read the "Rec-Insider" newsletter, visit our Web site.

For more information, please contact Campus Recreation by phone at (936) 468-3507 or e-mail at campusrec@sfasu.edu.

Volunteers needed! Help recruit students to SFA by volunteering for “Showcase Saturday." Saturday, Feb. 20, is the big day. Volunteers are needed from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please e-mail Monique Cossich at cossichm@sfasu.edu if you are interested. This is not work – it is fun!

Save the date! SFA’s Bright Ideas Conference, spotlighting faculty research, scholarship and artistry, has been scheduled for Thursday, April 8. Check with your dean’s office about specific submission guidelines for your college. If you have questions, contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at (936) 468-6606 or e-mail smcdaniel@sfasu.edu.

"Home" Opening Reception, 6 p.m., Griffith Gallery, Room 208 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building. The show, which includes paintings, sculptures and an outdoor installation, explores architectural construction and deconstruction and will run through Saturday, March 13. Gallery hours are 12:30 to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

SFA Today is published by the Office of Public Affairs Monday through Friday (except for holidays). Items must be received by noon prior to the day of desired inclusion. To submit items to SFA Today, use the online form or e-mail sfatoday@sfasu.edu. The announcement should apply to a significant number of faculty and/or staff members.